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Stop & Shop employees in five communities across the southern tier of the state were upset and worried about the immediate future Tuesday.

All of the local supermarkets and three gas stations are closing, leaving 670 workers out of a job.

“It’s tough. It’s depressing. It’s very stressful,” said a young mother who has worked at Stop & Shop for the better part of a decade and asked to remain anonymous. “It’s going to be really difficult. I mean, I do have to find another job, obviously. But I actually don’t think it’s going to be that fast that I’ll find a job.”

Customers said their sympathies are with the workers, but at the Stop & Shop off Valley Street in Manchester, they’re also concerned about neighbors who normally walk to the store.

“Well, I think it’s terrible because we’ve got a lot of older people that don’t have rides or anything,” said Lenora Gagnon, a customer.

Corporate officials said their New Hampshire supermarkets were under performing. Still, industry experts call the move to shut down all six locations surprising.

“I would say the first thing that comes to mind is the impact of Market Basket in New Hampshire and its popularity,” said Mike Berger, senior editor of The Griffin Report on Food Marketing.

Market Basket opened a downtown Manchester location in April 2012. Add the two Stop & Shops to the Shaw’s that is set to close on South Willow Street, and it appears the center city newcomer has a pretty good section of the city to itself now.

Stop & Shop plans to have all of its New Hampshire operations shut down on or before Sept. 21.

Employees said they are still in a state of disbelief.

“I honestly didn’t think this would ever happen,” an employee said.

Gov. Maggie Hassan has activated the state’s rapid response team for these layoffs, which means workers will have some state help getting started on a job search.

Just last week, Shaw’s said it would close six of its Granite State stores over the next month. The company said revenue was too low. Some of the Shaw’s employees will transfer to other stores.

"I feel bad for the employees and I feel bad for the company, but I hope that we do everything in our power to find these people jobs so they can stay active citizens in the city of Manchester," said Mayor Ted Gatsas.